June's nonfarm payrolls returned to near the December average (36,000). While employment continued to rise in social assistance and healthcare sectors this month, the previously surging leisure and hospitality sector experienced a significant drop.
The leisure and hospitality sector saw a decrease of 61,000 jobs, reflecting weaker-than-usual seasonal hiring in the industry, almost completely erasing the May increase (70,000), a situation not explainable by the World Cup. After the sharp drop in June, leisure and hospitality employment has returned to normal.
